Leatherback turtle

The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), also known as turtle leatherback turtle, leathery turtle or loggerhead turtle, is the sea turtle largest in the world. It can grow up to 2 meters long and weigh more than 500 kg. Its common name, "leatherback," comes from the shape of its shell, which resembles the soundbox of a lute.

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Leatherback Turtle Distribution

The leatherback turtle inhabits all the world's oceans and seas, including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific, as well as the Red, Mediterranean, and North Seas. It can venture far north and withstand the cold waters of places like Labrador, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, and the Bering Sea. It can also be found far south in countries such as Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Leatherback Turtle Characteristics

It is the only turtle with a pseudo-shell made up of numerous small osteoderms (bony plates found in the skin or scales of some animals) covered by a thick layer of fat. Its skin is very thin on top, smooth and shiny, resembling leather, which earned it its scientific name.

This turtle features a remarkable adaptation to the marine environmentstructure. It stands out for its seven longitudinal tubercular keels: one vertebral and three lateral on each side, whose two ends define the marginal edge of the pseudo-shell.

The leatherback turtle gets its common name from the shape of its shell which resembles the Greek stringed musical instrument called a lute.

Its skin is dark blue, dark gray, or almost black, with white spots that vary in size and number depending on the individual. The skull has a white or pinkish spot, once believed to be exclusive to females, but it has been shown that some males also have it. The head is large, wedge-shaped, with a short snout and an upper beak featuring two notches and a well-developed central hook.

The limbs are huge and very powerful, the tail is conical with a thick base sometimes adorned with white tubercles. Males have a very developed tail appendage, and the plastron shows three visible keels. The oral cavity is covered with long, conical, whitish tubercles used to gulp food and also to retain oxygen contained in the water.

Leatherback Turtle Habits

The leatherback turtle is the most pelagic of all sea turtles and can be found in deep ocean waters as well as shallow coastal areas. Unfortunately, its preference for jellyfish causes it to mistake plastic bags for food, leading to significant mortality in this species.

Despite this, they have the ability to dive deeper than 1,000 meters dive to great depths, regulate their temperature y migrate across all the world's oceans. Although juveniles are difficult to observe in their natural habitat, it is known that the early years of development are critical for this species. In March 1999, three juveniles were accidentally caught off the coast of Príncipe Island in the Gulf of Guinea, providing valuable information about their early development.

Some of these turtles have been recorded traveling from nesting beaches in the Pacific to the coasts of Japan and Russia, a journey of over 20,000 kilometers. During migration, these turtles feed in cold waters and then return to warmer waters to nest.

How long does the leatherback turtle live?

They are estimated to live around 80 years in a state of freedom.

How big is the leatherback turtle?

The leatherback turtle is the largest turtle in the world. Although the heaviest known specimen weighed 950 kg, it is possible that some giant leatherback turtle exceed a ton in weight. The shell of a adult leatherback turtle can reach 2 m.

What does the leatherback turtle eat?

The leatherback turtle's diet mainly consists of jellyfish, cephalopods, crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, fish, and young sea turtles.

turtle laúd eating — The leatherback turtle, also known as the baula turtle, primarily feeds on jellyfish. However, this can be dangerous for them since some jellyfish are venomous and can harm them. Leatherback turtles play an important role in controlling jellyfish populations in the ocean.

Leatherback Turtle Reproduction

Unlike other sea turtles, mating is rare and it is not certain if it occurs exclusively near nesting sites. During mating, the male clings to the female's back with his long, flexible, and prehensile flippers. A single fertilization is enough for at least ten successive clutches (a record of 17 clutches has been recorded for the same female). These clutches occur at intervals of ten to fifteen days.

Sea turtle nesting mainly takes place at night during high tide and consists of 6 phases.

Stages

Coming Ashore.
Site Exploration.
Nest Excavation to form a boot-shaped cavity between 70 and 80 cm deep.
Egg laying in large quantities, accompanied by mucus.
Filling the cavity while the turtle pushes the sand with its hind flippers
Return to the sea, sometimes with false exits to hide the tracks.

turtle laúd resting — Leatherback turtle egg laying on the seashore.

Two types of eggs are laid: the more abundant are white, large, about 5 cm in diameter, with a flexible, parchment-like membrane, and are viable. The other type is smaller, softer, non-viable, and seems intended only to conceal the main eggs. Each female can lay between 100 and 150 eggs per clutch, which can total up to 1,000 eggs per season.

turtle laúd eggs — Leatherback turtle eggs.

During nest excavation, females are sensitive to bright lights or disturbances and may interrupt their activity and return to the sea. When laying eggs, they are insensitive to external disturbances. Egg incubation lasts between 60 and 70 days, and the sex determination of the baby leatherback turtle will depend on the incubation temperature.

baby turtle laúd image — Baby leatherback turtle image.

Newborn leatherback turtles have huge front flippers and are preyed upon by numerous predators. Juveniles spend their first years unseen. Adult turtles face threats such as pollution, fishing techniques, boat collisions, and predator attacks. When attacked by sharks, leatherback turtles protect themselves by presenting their shell.

Leatherback Turtle Conservation Status

The leatherback turtle species faces threats such as disruption of nesting sites, egg and meat collection, and accidental fishing. Conservation programs are carried out, and extraction systems are used at the bottom of nets for their survival. There is controversy among experts about their future and level of threat, but it remains one of the most studied and protected sea turtles in the world. Organizations monitor certain locations and populations. There is the endangered leatherback turtle.